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Click here to see the video: Coaching Youth Football: Safe Tackling Technique

Dennis Hill: The most important thing you should teach your players is how to make a safe tackle. Tackling, of course, is the essence of the game. At the same time, however, it is very, very important for the safety of your players that you teach them the proper technique. Joe and Jake are going to demonstrate how we teach the fundamental tackling techniques that you need to make sure your players are safe and can tackle effectively in the open field. Joe is playing the defensive position. We do a three count. On the first step, Joe will break the midline of the opponent and bring his arms back. The second step, Joe will bring his other foot with him, reach behind the opponent and do what we call grab cloth. He will grab the back of Jake's jersey.

At the same, you'll notice that Joe's face is squarely up, he's doing what we call biting the ball. He's bulling his neck back, he is making contact with the ball with his facemask, he's remembering to never, ever, ever tackle with the crown of your head. Always lead with your face mask. On the third step, Joe brings his hips forward and drives and makes the tackle on his opponent.

So remember, he steps with his right foot, puts his arms behind him and breaks the midline of the opponent. Two, he swings his arms up through, grabs cloth, squares his neck and on the third step Joe brings his hips forward and drives and makes the tackle on his opponent.